1987 Mercedes-Benz R107 560SL with Palomino Leather (234)

Bigger is better as they say in the USA, where this car was originally delivered. Arriving in San Francisco, before being sold at a dealer in Santa Cruz, California, this car was brought to the UK in 2016. Bigger, as in the biggest 5.6-litre V8, that engine meaning this car came fully-loaded with a big equipment as standard – think cruise control, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors and, of course, US specification bumpers – one instance where bigger is definitely not better. Pleasingly, then, following this car’s return trip from over the Atlantic, SLSHOP supplied slimmer, more elegant European specification bumpers; these looking great with the recently resprayed Smoke Silver Metallic paint.

There’s a brown fabric hood (and body-coloured hardtop) with the interior finished in Palomino Leather – a lovely fudge colour. Naturally, this car’s left-hand drive, so you’re closer to the pavement to enjoy all those admiring glances when you’re adding to the 78,904 miles that’s currently on the odometer.

The bodywork is in good overall condition, having had a full respray in 2023, with only a few tiny dings in the chrome trim strips detracting slightly from the otherwise near perfect exterior. The wheels also benefit from having been refurbished at the same time. Inside, the dashboard and door cards have survived the heat and sun of this car’s life in California, though the leather seats would benefit from some leather cream to remove some of the light surface cracking. The carpet in the seatless rear is a bit careworn, and there’s a small hole in the passenger-side (right, with this being a left-hand drive car) door card, but it’s out of sight with the door closed. The hood, in brown, is in good condition, and there’s a cool Aviator Nation surf beach sticker in the window nodding to this car’s California origins. The Palomino leather colour looks fantastic, and the floor mats, from Cocomats.com, are a very period-correct option, these once being offered by Mercedes-Benz dealers, the woven natural fibres neatly matching the interior colours, and giving the cabin a somewhat hippie-chic that matches this 560 SL’s original San Francisco US port of origin. Under the bonnet is clean, but we’ve spotted the need for the replacement of the auxiliary belts and would advise an inner bulkhead clean down and Waxoil to keep everything as it should be – something the seller is open to discussing with the prospective buyer.

The box file that accompanies this 560 SL has the original handbook, service book and the window paperwork that’s mandatory on all US cars when they’re sold. The subsequent owners have kept up the servicing, and there’s plenty of paperwork to demonstrate that money’s been spent on the car to keep it running well. There’s the invoice for those floormats, too, which were ordered from the USA, after the car had actually made it across to the UK… Another note is when new the original owner deleted the standard rear spoiler, giving it a more subtle look. Plenty to dig through, with MOTs, and all the necessary paperwork in relation to the importation – demonstrating all the correct taxes were paid, and rules adhered to – as well as the recent work like the new paint, wheel refurbishment and more.

A nice, storied, 560 SL which benefits from a recent respray and refurbished wheels and an interior that while not perfect, isn’t far from it with a little bit of work – the Palomino Leather is a lovely hue, and works brilliantly with the rest of the interior trim. One we’d want to drive and enjoy, its LHD making it perfect for soirees into Europe, where it’s big easy V8 would also make cruising a joy. Given all the recent work, and its overall condition, a car you can buy worry-free, and use as intended, with the hope when doing so you’re blessed with California-copying weather...